Download or read book Libertarian Paganism written by Logan Albright and published by John Hunt Publishing. This book was released on 2023-10-27 with total page 167 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paganism and libertarianism might seem like odd choices to bring together in a single book. One is a broad set of nature-centric religious and spiritual practices, while the other is a fairly narrow political philosophy focusing on personal freedom and responsibility. But as a member of both communities, author Logan Albright has been unable to shake the feeling that they actually have more in common than most people realize. Libertarian Paganism posits that there is a fundamental sympathy between these two apparently unrelated belief systems, and that a set of shared values might attract politically homeless pagans to libertarianism, or spiritually homeless libertarians to paganism. These values include respect for the individual, the importance of consent, the freedom to express views which are out of the mainstream, tolerance and inclusion, and a healthy skepticism towards the powerful. Libertarian paganism is, in Albright's experience, a way of life that is both personally empowering and deeply ethical, two qualities towards which the author likes to think we are all striving. It is the author's hope that readers of any political or spiritual persuasion will find something here of use, or at least thought provoking, in the development of that personal philosophy we all need to work on continually if we are to live lives of meaning and purpose.
Download or read book Godless Paganism Voices of Non Theistic Pagans written by John Halstead and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016-03-18 with total page 422 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Even in pagan antiquity, there were those who, while participating in the community's religious life, did not believe in literal gods. In the centuries that followed the Christian domination of the West, the epithet "godless pagan" was leveled at a wide variety of people. In the 1960s, there emerged a community of people who sought to reclaim the name "pagan" from its history of opprobrium. These Neo-Pagans were interested in nature spirituality and polytheism, and identified with the misunderstood and persecuted pagans of antiquity. While many Pagans today believe in literal gods, there are a growing number of Pagans who are "godless." Today, the diverse assemblage of spiritual paths known as Paganism includes atheist Pagans or Atheopagans, Humanistic and Naturalistic Pagans, Buddho-Pagans, animists, pantheists, Gaians, and other non-theistic Pagans. Here, their voices are gathered together to share what it means to be Pagan and godless.
Download or read book Phoenix from the Flame written by Vivianne Crowley and published by HarperThorsons. This book was released on 1994 with total page 296 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Crowley's bewitching exploration of Paganism takes readers into the realms of eco-spirituality, goddess religions, and the everyday lives of practicing Pagans--showing how and why this ancient tradition is gaining a new and enthusiastic following today.
Download or read book The Declaration of Independents written by Nick Gillespie and published by PublicAffairs. This book was released on 2012-06-26 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Everywhere in America, the forces of digitization, innovation, and personalization are expanding our options and bettering the way we live. Everywhere, that is, except in our politics. There we are held hostage to an eighteenth century system, dominated by two political parties whose ever-more-polarized rhetorical positions mask a mutual interest in maintaining a stranglehold on power. The Declaration of Independents is a compelling and extremely entertaining manifesto on behalf of a system better suited to the future--one structured by the essential libertarian principles of free minds and free markets. Gillespie and Welch profile libertarian innovators, identify the villains propping up the ancien regime, and take aim at do-something government policies that hurt most of those they claim to protect. Their vision will resonate with a wide swath of frustrated citizens and young voters, born after the Cold War's end, to whom old tribal allegiances, prejudices, and hang-ups about everything from hearing a foreign language on the street to gay marriage to drug use simply do not make sense.
Download or read book Contemporary Paganism written by Graham Harvey and published by NYU Press. This book was released on 2000-08 with total page 268 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An introduction to modern Paganism and its roots and history The Pagan tradition celebrates the physical nature of life on earth, blending science with spiritual folklore. Seasonal festivals are combined with the rediscovery of shamanic techniques and an emphasis on grounded empiricism. Considering the everyday world of food, health, sex, work, and leisure to be sacred, Pagans oppose that which threatens life such as deforestation, overdevelopment, nuclear power and invoke ancient deities in this struggle for the well-being of the earth and its inhabitants. Contemporary Paganism presents a broad-based introduction to the main trends of contemporary Paganism, revealing the origins and practical aspects of Druidry, Witchcraft, Heathenism, Goddess Spirituality and Magic, Shamanism, and Geomancy among others. Making use of both traditional history and the movement's more imaginative sources, Harvey reveals how Paganism and its central focus on individual and social life is evolving and how this new religion perceives and relates to more traditional ones.
Download or read book Gods of the Blood written by Mattias Gardell and published by Duke University Press. This book was released on 2003-06-27 with total page 457 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Racist paganism is a thriving but understudied element of the American religious and cultural landscape. Gods of the Blood is the first in-depth survey of the people, ideologies, and practices that make up this fragmented yet increasingly radical and militant milieu. Over a five-year period during the 1990s Mattias Gardell observed and participated in pagan ceremonies and interviewed pagan activists across the United States. His unprecedented entree into this previously obscure realm is the basis for this firsthand account of the proliferating web of organizations and belief systems combining pre-Christian pagan mythologies with Aryan separatism. Gardell outlines the historical development of the different strands of racist paganism—including Wotanism, Odinism and Darkside Asatrú—and situates them on the spectrum of pagan belief ranging from Wicca and goddess worship to Satanism. Gods of the Blood details the trends that have converged to fuel militant paganism in the United States: anti-government sentiments inflamed by such events as Ruby Ridge and Waco, the rise of the white power music industry (including whitenoise, dark ambient, and hatecore), the extraordinary reach of modern communications technologies, and feelings of economic and cultural marginalization in the face of globalization and increasing racial and ethnic diversity of the American population. Gardell elucidates how racist pagan beliefs are formed out of various combinations of conspiracy theories, anti-Semitism, warrior ideology, populism, beliefs in racial separatism, Klandom, skinhead culture, and tenets of national socialism. He shows how these convictions are further animated by an array of thought selectively derived from thinkers including Nietzche, historian Oswald Spengler, Carl Jung, and racist mystics. Scrupulously attentive to the complexities of racist paganism as it is lived and practiced, Gods of the Blood is a fascinating, disturbing, and important portrait of the virulent undercurrents of certain kinds of violence in America today.
Download or read book Pagan Ethics written by Michael York and published by Springer. This book was released on 2015-08-05 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This book is the first comprehensive examination of the ethical parameters of paganism when considered as a world religion alongside Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism. The issues of evil, value and idolatry from a pagan perspective are analyzed as part of the Western ethical tradition from the Sophists and Platonic schools through the philosophers Spinoza, Hume, Kant and Nietzsche to such contemporary thinkers as Grayling, Mackie, MacIntyre, Habermas, Levinas, Santayana, etc. From a more practical viewpoint, a delineation of applied pagan ethics is then presented in connection with current moral issues such as same-sex union, recreational drugs, environmental awareness, abortion and terrorism. Finally, overviews of sectarian pagan ethics (Shinto, Santeria, Heathenism, Druidry, Romuva, Slavic, Kemeticism, Classical and Wicca) provide both the general and pagan reader with an understanding of the provocative range and differentiation of pagan ethical thought. The book approaches the Western ethical tradition as an historical development and a continuing dialogue. The novelty of this approach lies in its consideration of paganism as a legitimate voice of religious spirituality rather than a satanic aberration or ridiculous childish behavior. The book is aimed at both the contemporary Western pagan and anyone with an interest in the moral dilemmas of our times and the desire to engage in the global ethical discussion. Among the more important features of the book are its presentation of a re-evaluation of idolatry, the notion of the virtue value, the richness of the pagan tradition, and the expansion of Western ethics beyond its Christian heritage.
Download or read book The Place of Religion in the Liberal Philosophy of Constant Tocqueville and Lord Acton written by Ralph Raico and published by Ludwig von Mises Institute. This book was released on 1970 with total page 179 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:
Download or read book Paganism for Beginners written by Sebastian Berg and published by Creek Ridge Publishing. This book was released on 2020-05-26 with total page 80 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Paganism is a subject that can divide people. Some believe it is an ancient religion that involves devil worship and sacrificial rites that involve naked sacrifices in the forest. Other people believe it is all about love and happiness; people were singing Kumbaya as they scatter flowers before them. The truth is, as with most religions and beliefs, there are many layers to Paganism and the people who follow in the Pagan ways. If you are interested in finding out about their beliefs and ceremonies, then this is the book for you. Dispel the myths and learn the truth behind this fascinating subject. You may feel the call to join the Pagan community, or you may just be curious to find out what Paganism is all about. No matter what your reason, you are sure to be entertained and informed with this informative book on Paganism.
Download or read book Living With Honour written by Emma Restall Orr and published by John Hunt Publishing. This book was released on 2012-11-01 with total page 431 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A provocative,articulate and uncompromising exploration of how Paganism can provide the philosophical guidance to live honourably in a twenty-first Western society.
Download or read book Handbook of Contemporary Paganism written by Murphy Pizza and published by BRILL. This book was released on 2008-09-30 with total page 660 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Contemporary Paganism is a movement that is still young and establishing its identity and place on the global religious landscape. The members of the movement are simultaneously growing, unifying, and maintaining its characteristic diversity of traditions, identities, and rituals. The modern Pagan movement has had a restless formation period but has also been the catalyst for some of the most innovative religious expressions, praxis, theologies, and communities. As Contemporary Paganism continues to grow and mature, new angles of inquiry about it have emerged and are explored in this collection. This examination and study of contemporary Paganism contributes new ways to observe and examine other religions, where innovations, paradoxes, and inconsistencies can be more accurately documented and explained.
Download or read book Living Paganism written by Shanddaramon and published by Red Wheel/Weiser. This book was released on 2005-10-12 with total page 174 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this book, you will learn how to develop Pagan spiritual goals that are balanced and meaningful. Every day we experience the cycles of Earth, the moon, the sun, and the changes in life. By connecting your practice to these sacred cycles you will learn to create a meaningful and magical life.
Download or read book Pagan Consent Culture written by Christine Hoff Kraemer and published by Lulu.com. This book was released on 2016 with total page 538 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this collection, Druids, Wiccans, Heathens, Polytheists, and others show how to ground good consent practices in Pagan stories, liturgies, and values. Although many Pagans see the body and sexuality as sacred, Pagan communities still struggle with the reality of assault and abuse. To build consent culture, good consent practices must be embraced by communities, not just by individuals--and consent is about much more than sexuality. Consent culture begins with the idea of autonomy, with recognizing our right to control our bodies in all areas of life; and it is sustained by empathy, the ability to understand and share the emotional states of others.
Download or read book Pagans and Philosophers written by John Marenbon and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2017-02-28 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An ambitious history of how medieval writers came to terms with paganism From the turn of the fifth century to the beginning of the eighteenth, Christian writers were fascinated and troubled by the "Problem of Paganism," which this book identifies and examines for the first time. How could the wisdom and virtue of the great thinkers of antiquity be reconciled with the fact that they were pagans and, many thought, damned? Related questions were raised by encounters with contemporary pagans in northern Europe, Mongolia, and, later, America and China. Pagans and Philosophers explores how writers—philosophers and theologians, but also poets such as Dante, Chaucer, and Langland, and travelers such as Las Casas and Ricci—tackled the Problem of Paganism. Augustine and Boethius set its terms, while Peter Abelard and John of Salisbury were important early advocates of pagan wisdom and virtue. University theologians such as Aquinas, Scotus, Ockham, and Bradwardine, and later thinkers such as Ficino, Valla, More, Bayle, and Leibniz, explored the difficulty in depth. Meanwhile, Albert the Great inspired Boethius of Dacia and others to create a relativist conception of scientific knowledge that allowed Christian teachers to remain faithful Aristotelians. At the same time, early anthropologists such as John of Piano Carpini, John Mandeville, and Montaigne developed other sorts of relativism in response to the issue. A sweeping and original account of an important but neglected chapter in Western intellectual history, Pagans and Philosophers provides a new perspective on nothing less than the entire period between the classical and the modern world.
Download or read book Pagan Portals The Irish Pagan Book of Rites written by John Michael McLoughlin and published by John Hunt Publishing. This book was released on 2024-02-23 with total page 169 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'The Irish Book of Rites is unique, a dual language text that offers evocative rituals in both English and Irish. A wonderful way to connect to your spirituality across the tides of the year; truly something that all Irish pagans should have on their shelf.' Morgan Daimler, author of Irish Paganism and Gods and Goddesses of Ireland The Irish Pagan Book of Rites contains all the essential rites in an easy-to-follow format, presented in both the English and the Irish (Gaeilge) languages for those wishing to make their offerings in the beautiful indigenous Irish tongue. Here you'll find rites for regular use, blessings for water and the home, celebrations for the main Irish festivals, as well as in-depth explanations for the meaning, purpose, and lore behind each devotion.
Download or read book Paganism written by Riley Star and published by Nrb Publishing. This book was released on 2015-09-17 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What is paganism? Is it an heretical faith that stands in opposition to Christianity? It is devil worship? The answer is no times three. "Paganism" does not refer to a single religion, but to a collection of earth-centric polytheistic philosophies that harken back to belief structures that pre-date Christianity. Pagans of all types believe that there are many paths to reach a harmonious relationship with deity. No single one is more valid than another. Since pagans do not see the world as locked in a cosmic struggle between good and evil, they do not recognize the Christian concept of Satan nor do they worship him. The notion of "pagan" as "heretic" is only valid when seen through the lens of Christianity. In her latest book, author Riley Starr offers a gentle introduction to the world of earth religions aimed at the beginner. Using Wicca, Druidry, and Odinism as exemplars, Starr explains what it means to function both as a pagan within a group and as a sole practitioner. With suggestions for starting a ritualistic life and for adopting the use of protective symbols, Starr opens the door for new followers of paganism to take the first steps in their own journey and encourages them to embrace a lifelong study of the deities and symbols that speak exclusively to them. Pagan holidays, beliefs, gods and goddesses, symbols, rituals, practices, and much more!
Download or read book Individualized Religion written by Claire Wanless and published by Bloomsbury Publishing. This book was released on 2021-04-08 with total page 198 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawing on ethnographic research, this book explores individualized religion in and around Hebden Bridge in West Yorkshire. Claire Wanless demonstrates that counter to the claims of secularization theorists, the combination of informal structures and practices can provide a viable basis for socially significant religious activity that can sustain itself. The subjects of this research claim a variety of religious identities and practices, and are suspicious of religious institutions, hierarchies, rules and dogmas. Yet they participate actively in an overlapping and cross-linking informal network of practice communities and other associations. Their engagements propagate and sustain a core ideology that prioritizes subjectivity, locates authority at the level of the individual, and also predicates itself on ideals of sharing, mutuality and community. Providing a new theory of religious association, this book is a nuanced counterpoint to the secularization thesis in the UK and points the way to new research on individual religion.
